I sat down many times over the past two months with the hopeful intension to write down some recent story or lay out some recent thoughts. Each time walking away from the computer, either because I felt there was nothing to say or maybe because things have been so fast pace lately that I can hardly slow my head down enough to back track my thoughts. Its been crazy. I took on another class in pursuit of an education. Although I think the most education I am getting these days is coming from hands on experience and watching. Watching Jason lead this team in Tulsa is teaching me so much. Living with Shawna is teaching me a lot about determination and courage to not back down to the world. And as always, I am reading a lot.

             Today I and lately I have been thinking about home. The Appalachian mountains and many friends. If to many minutes go by I start to think I'm crazy for ever leaving such a wonderful place. But then I'm encouraged to continue on here in Tulsa. Our Grand Opening is this weekend, we are all so excited to get started. Keep us in your prayers. Pray that God would use us despite us and that many people who are hurting would find peace.

No doubt, there are seasons of our lives. For whatever reason there are just some times each year that we pull out the old vinyls and give 'em a spin. Ok, i can't speak for you, but I pull out my old vinyls and wear 'em out just one more time. This past week has been quite the collection of old music, reading and re-reading.

I just finished a book by K.P. Yohannan called Revolution In World Missions. You might recognize it's title because it was advertised as a Free Book in a add on Biblegateway.com for almost a year. Which is exactly how I got the book. Finally, I decided to go ahead and just get the book and stop being teased by the offer of a free book. After finishing Gene Edwards, A Tale Of Three Kings I had a reading craving that couldn't be quenched, staring at my long row of "books i want read" I thought I would give K.P. a chance. Am I ever glad I did and this book will be one that I put on the "re-read shelf". K.P. will convict you to live less for yourself and more for the Two-Thirds world that is in tremendous need, not merely that they should have food, water and shelter but that they should have the only thing that feeds a persons soul, give than eternal home and saves their lives, the gospel. 

I have been convicted and now... I'm not so sure what I want to do. I know there are tons of things I could do, but I do no what I don't want to do. I don't want to convince myself that what I'm doing is enough and in time surely, slowly drift back to a life that is self-serving. 

Shawna and I have this plant on our patio, its in the perfect location, just enough out of sight to slip my mind. About every 2 days I remember this plant and how desperately it needs water. This poor plant has been on the verge of death almost its entire life.

Today as I was about to walk out the door I remembered that I needed to go give the plant wanter. I thought to myself, how accurate a picture for most of our prayer lives?! We know we cant live without prayer, but we go days sometimes weeks until we feel so parched and almost dead. So we offer up enough prayer to make ourselves feel alive and then we start the process over again. Slowly drying up until we feel almost dead again.

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we don't give up." Galatians 6:9
Once I watered the plant, I decided to bring it inside and sit it in a place where I could see it and not forget  about it. How much better our prayers would be if we would take the time to care for for our prayer time and to protect it.

God is so incredibly good to us! Even though at times things can seem to difficult to handle, God comes through.

My eyes are dry
My faith is old
My heart is hard
My prayers are cold
And I know how I ought to be
Alive to You and dead to me

But what can be done
For an old heart like mine
Soften it up
With oil and wine
The oil is You, Your Spirit of love
Please wash me anew
With the wine of Your Blood


-K.G.

Shawna and I are here in Tyler, Texas visiting with Keturah and Shawn. We have had a very wonderful time. I continue to be challenged and encouraged by my older sister. Today was a particularly special day in my life because I got to visit the grave site of Keith Green. Although I never got the chance to meet Keith, I feel like I know him very well. To this day Keith encourages me to seek Jesus alone, to put nothing before simply loving Jesus. As I stood and stared at Keiths tombstone I felt like I had so much to say and thank him for. Inscribed on the stone was John 12:24 "unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." . Even as I read I was convicted. God has been speaking to my heart, and today will be remembered. I am so thankful for the revelation of Gods love and the intimacy with God that is possible. I have not and will not till eternity know the full understanding of Gods love for us. But I do know the more I obey, the more he reveals it, the more I love Him and obey and so it continues.

This past weekend, Shawna and I packed our house and moved into a new apartment, went to 4 different church services with in a 24 hour period, enjoyed the holiday with some good friends, and we got a temporary new roommate named Gerry who is preparing to move out.

It has been a pretty awesome, pretty strange few days. Now we are preparing for our 3rd monthly service, June 6th. I'm beginning to get use to the fact the time goes by much quicker than you'd like it to. If I think long and hard it makes a little sense that we are already half way there to launching Freedom Valley Church - Tulsa. But this feeling of warped time and reminiscence still lingers.

We have had such an encouraging time with Gerry. Shawna and I both miss our families, and although we are very glad that we got to spend some much time with Gerry, it can't help but make you look forward to being together with people you love again, and that can be a little painful.

The next "together time" will be July 20-31. Forty-Nine days away. I am so looking forward to that time with family. But God help me to be satisfied, content and focused for your purposes here in Tulsa.